Fort Bend County crime report

Published 7:00 pm, Tuesday, October 3, 2006

Suspect arrested in store clerk murder

Michael John Sanchez, 17, of the Sugar Land area, confessed late last Thursday to the robbery and killing of a 24-year-old store clerk Wednesday during an aggravated robbery at a Chevron gas station in Richmond.

Sanchez was booked into the Fort Bend County Jail, charged with murder, which carries $1,000,000 bond.

Fort Bend County Sheriff's Department officials said it appeared from the store's surveillance video that the clerk, Altaf Jafarali Maknojia, of the Sugar Land area, complied and did not show any resistance to the suspect's demands.

Despite that, the suspect fired his weapon as he was leaving the store, hitting Maknojia in the neck.

The robbery took place shortly before midnight in the 9400 block of FM 1464.

He demanded cash and tobacco products that were stored behind the counter.

Vehicle burglar nabbed with goods

A Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office deputy arrested a Richmond-area resident on two counts of burglary of a vehicle after he found the suspect with tools of the trade and items reported stolen from two separate vehicles.

Stephen A. Jones-Morales, 18, was parked in the 1200 block of Briarmead Drive in the Pecan Grove Subdivision at 10:30 p.m. Sept. 25 when the deputy approached him.

After further investigation, the deputy determined the suspect had items consistent with tools commonly used to burglarize vehicles.

While speaking with the suspect, the deputy was approached by a resident who said his vehicle had been broken into.

The deputy located the stolen items in the suspect's vehicle.

The deputy learned another vehicle on the street had also been burglarized.

Jones-Morales was arrested and the items were recovered.

He was booked into the Fort Bend County Jail on two counts of burglary of a motor vehicle, with bonds of $750 for each count, and also for outstanding warrants, assault causing bodily injury and credit card abuse, with bonds totaling $28,000.

Needville man busted for home burglary

Deputies with the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office arrested a 29-year-old Needville man in possession of stolen property shortly after an alleged home burglary Sept. 27.

Deputies responded to the burglary in progress call at 11:43 p.m. in the 6000 block of FM 2977 in Richmond.

According to the police report, a witness saw the suspect, Brent Alan Ethridge, run out of the home with several items, then place them into a vehicle backed into the home's driveway.

The suspect was seen making several trips into the house before driving off.

Ethridge was found near the victims' home while several deputies were on their way to the scene.

The report said he had the stolen property, which was recovered.

Ethridge was booked into the Fort Bend County Jail for one count of burglary of a habitation with a $20,000 bond.